Summary: Ria is currently living with Epitheloid hemangioendiothelioma (EHE), a cancer that grows from the cells that make up the blood vessels. The tumors are causing spinal cord compression, which has led to acute paralysis and incontinence. There are also tumors in her liver, which have been increasing in size and causing elevated enzyme levels that threaten her liver function.
Who is Ria and why should you care about her?
She is a daughter: As the eldest, she was a breadwinner for about a decade after her parents suffered financial difficulties. Her mother passed in 2011 and she lost her father in 2019.
She is a sister: She has two younger sisters whom she supported financially until they graduated from their respective degrees.
She is a partner: She shares her life with J, who has selflessly supported her through all her health challenges. More recently, J has also taken on the breadwinner role since Ria is unemployed.
She is a hard worker: She has been supporting herself for the past two decades through freelance and full-time jobs, but she is now unemployed for the first time because of EHE. She has previously paid for her own medical bills, including 3 spinal surgeries and 2 liver procedures.
Moving forward, she hopes to stay healthy enough to continue pursuing her dreams. At only 43, there is still so much life to live. She firmly believes that the paralysis is temporary and she will do everything in her power to regain use of her legs.
She writes about the joys and difficulties of life at Words by Ria Rivera.
Why we need your help:
1. Ongoing medical costs: The primary expense is the targeted cancer medicine called Sirolimus, which we are paying for out-of-pocket. While we are still in the early stages of evaluating its efficacy, we are preparing for the possibility of Ria requiring the medicine for the rest of her life. In addition to the oral medication, Ria would also require regular lab tests, imaging scans, and outpatient consultations to consistently monitor her health.
2. Life adjustments: She is currently receiving care in Taiwan, where she worked and resides. However, we plan to fly her back to the Philippines so that she can be closer to family. To do this, we first need to transform a room into disabled-friendly space. This would require specific medical equipment and other accessibility-related considerations. She will also need to hire a full-time caregiver to assist with basic tasks since she is currently unable to control her bladder and bowels, nor is she able to use both legs.
Thank you for taking the time to get to know Ria. We hope that you can help us share this fundraiser with your network. Every little bit helps, and we believe in the power of community. May you be blessed for your kindness and generosity.